Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-13
Letter from the white Sulphur.


dest known of mountain resorts suggests
enough to fill at least one letter that mag
interest your readers, and in the friendly
hope of entertaining them 1 address you.
The lessee of the Springs (since 1889 is
W. A. Stuart, esq.,, of Washington county,
who is at the same time the holder of a con-
trolling interest ir the property. On the
18th September the place is to be sold, so
that its ultimate ownership is just now in
doubt, as, indeed, it has been for many
years. A1r. Stuart has been fortunate in
securing as superintendent Major B. F. Ea
kle, of Staunton, one Of the ablest hotel
men in the two Virginias. His administra-
ton is eminently successful, and that it
has the approval of the public is sufficiently
established by the fact that this, his fourth
season, ia the best he has had at all. An
efficient and courteous corps OF co.workeis
in the Office and elsewhere second his inde-
fatigable efforts in behalf Of the comfort OF
guests, and everything moves with aston
ishing smoothness Prominent among his
agents is Mr.. P. NJ. Fry, of Virginia, the
room clerk, whose faithful, unobtrusive dis
charge of duty and uniform urbanity have
long made him Il general favorite.
There are now here from 1900 To 500
people, brilliant company enough except
for the fact that far fewer notables than
usual are among the guests. This has been
The case all the summer. Gen. ). b. Buck
ner. Governor elect Of Kentucky; Gen.
WIN. Preston. of Louisville; VIM. A. Maui
ry, esq, Assistant Attorney General !;
the Rev. Robert l.. Dabney, ID. D., now
of the University of Texas ; United
States Senator Kenna, of West Virginia ;
Judges Gilbert and Van Wyck, of Brooklyn,
N Y; Judge MCGOWAN, of South Carolina ;
the Rev Henry c.. Alexander, ID. D., OF
Prince Edward, and few others may be
said to complete the list of distinguished
wife was Miss Della Clabourne, OF Rich
mond, tho belle of the springs in 1879, now
| unfortunately an invalid, but the happy
mother OF baby boy who is accounted the
handsomest child here.
But though there are fewer people OF
note, there are quite as many intelligent and
cultured men and accomplished and elegant
women among the visitors as are usually
found here, Notwithstanding the absence OF
some favorite habitues The average of
beauty among the ladies seems less high
than usual, but there are many lovely faces
and the beauX appear well satisfied. No
one or two special beauties monopolze tho
attentions of the men or excite the envy Of
sisters less fair-a state of things scarcely to
he regretted. In one important particular
| the season differs from some recent ones for
the better. The private entertaining and
extravaganza outlay incident thereto has
been much less frequent, and is not likely to
be largely revived this summer. Such ex
ercse of his hospitality, however creditable
to the hosts, is more honored in the breach
than the observance from the fact that pc.
sides incidental abuses, it encourages and
sometimes obliges return from people who
like most here, cannot afford it.
It is interesting TO note the change as
years advance in the localities represented
at the White Sulphur. From Virginia many
come az of yore, but fewer in proportion,
owing to the poverty Of our people, aud the
same may be said of visitors from States
south of us. The most noteworthy changes
are the increase Of representations from the
West and North and the falling off in Balti-
moreans. Twenty or more years ago, as
many besides the writer remember, the
leading people here were oftenest
from Baltimore, and the city sometimes had
the largest delegation on the ground. Now
the fashion has changed, and Bar Harbor,
Narragansett and other Northern resorts
deprive US of that valued contingent. The
opening OF direct Western railway connect
ions, on the other hand, brings numerous
visitors from Kentucky and the West and
Southwest generally, 10 whom the Virginia
mountains once were virtually closed, SO
that it is quite likely 10 day that Louisville
and Cincinnati have more representatives
here than the Maryland metropolis. Most
noticeable, however, all things considered,
is the increase of Northern visitors. With
the possible exception of Richmond, Phila-
delphia has more people here than any other
city, including some of the best of its society,
and New York and other places north show
much Of thesimilar appreciation. 1t is TO be
hoped that the present generation Of Balti-
moreans may soon become less provincial
in taste, and return TO the queen of water
ing places.
Tho season at the White Sulphur for
greatest numbers and gaiety is usually the
first half of August, or from the fifth to the
twentieth. Monday night last, the eighth,
was the occasion Of the first special enter
tainmsnt of any prominence, bal poudre,
given by the ladies' 1t was really bril-.
liant affair, though it would have appeared
more so had the number of dancers been
less A hundred couples in the german,
even in the White Sulphur ball room, are
rather too many for comfort The powder
ing Of The ladies' hair-and all the dancers
and most of tho chaperones had powdered
heads-with the rouge, the chalk, the dark.
ened eyebrows and even the patches, add.
ed interest TO the matchess scene while
the toilets, in many cases exquisite, were
generally beautiful. 1t was not quite in
keeping, however, that the dresses were all
in modern fashion, though nobody thought
of that at the time. Very few of the gentle
men had powdered heads, and considering
the number who had no hair to speak of
thus 10 treat, it is fortunate that no more of
the fortunate class attempted it.
Yesterday the Irish Club" gave dinner
Of forty covers ladies aud gentletnen) and
last night there was subscription german,
both of which seem to have been highly APP
preciated by those who were present. To.
night a handsome ball is to be given by
Mra Rondolnh Norris of Rinhmnnd Ilofaly |